Saving Drew

by Lara Van Hulzen

  Baylee smiled, loving the way her two friends teased. It made her miss her own sister, how the two of them could banter the same way.

  There was a sourness to Kate’s mood though.

  “You okay?” She put a hand on Kate’s arm.

  “She just jealous. She wants another donut like me.”

  Baylee shook her head. “Go get one, friend. It’s on me.”

  Maggie took off for the counter. Baylee nodded to Eva who got a fresh plate while Maggie surveyed her choices in the case.

  “So. What’s up?” Baylee turned her attention back to Kate.

  Kate pulled her phone from her purse and tapped the screen. She handed it to Baylee. “This isn’t exactly how I wanted to tell you this, during a busy time while you’re at work on a Saturday. But Maggie dragged me in here and, quite honestly, you need to know.”

  Baylee’s stomach dropped. Her immediate thought was something was wrong with Drew. She looked down at Kate’s phone. A photograph of her and Drew having dinner the other night at the nice restaurant was on the screen. Drew was leaning forward on the table, smiling at her. Her green dress stood out against the black and gray tones in the photo. Her back was to the camera but Drew’s face was clear.

  She recalled that moment. She’d told him a story about how she and her sister had gotten into some red paint when her dad was working on their house. They were little and thought it would be fun to make art out of one another. Her mother had been furious and scrubbed them over and over again but their hair and skin stayed pink for a week. He’d listened with rapt attention, laughing at their shenanigans, his eyes crinkling at the corners from his smile.

  The man took her breath away. It was a great photo.

  She handed the phone back to Kate. “I don’t understand. How did you get this?”

  “Someone posted it on twitter. It’s pretty much everywhere now. The world is wondering who the ‘blonde bombshell’ is with the hot pitcher for the New York Empires.”

  Baylee’s heart rate sped up. Talking to Kate about this potentially happening was one thing. But having her picture out on the internet was another. Sure, it wasn’t of her face, but still. What Kate warned her about had begun. It wasn’t as if people would let it go. Or would they?

  “It’s just one picture, Kate. And it doesn’t even show my face. I’m sure it will die out. By tomorrow there will be someone else in the sports world to talk about.”

  Maggie returned with her donut.

  Kate gave Baylee her best smile but her eyes said she wasn’t convinced. Quite frankly, neither was Baylee. Would it fade out? People would surely lose interest if they just ignored it.

  The bell over the door jingled and Baylee turned to see Drew in the doorway. Based on the look on his face, he was as worried about things as Kate. Maybe more.

  Drew walked into the bakery and found Baylee talking to Kate and Maggie. By the look on her face, Kate had already talked to Baylee about the picture. He’d only found out about it himself that morning at training. He’d kept his phone off almost the entire time he was in Silver Bay, grateful to be disconnected for a while, but Tyler showed Drew the picture, asked him if this was the Adrian in his life he was talking about the other day. Drew didn’t answer. Just showered and got in his rental car as fast as he could. He wanted to talk to Baylee. He needed to talk to Baylee.

  He nodded to his sister who did the same in return. She said something to Baylee who then excused herself from the table and came to meet him.

  “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

  She nodded, then led him to the back of the store, through the kitchen and into a small office. He’d never been in the back of the bakery before. They spent all their time at her house. The kitchen was immaculately clean, except for the center island covered in flour with large silver bowls around full of dough. A woman with a Baylee’s Bakery apron on kneaded dough. He recognized her as Eva, the one Baylee said was a huge help to her. She smiled as they passed by but didn’t say anything.

  Baylee closed the office door behind them for privacy. A large window looked out into the kitchen so Eva could see them but not hear them. She was engrossed in her task though. And Baylee trusted her. Drew knew that much.

  “Are you okay?”

  Baylee’s voice brought him back to the moment.

  He nodded. Hell, he dealt with this crap all the time. He was worried about her. “I needed to see you.”

  She stepped into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  He held her close, soaking in her warmth. “You’re not mad? Don’t wanna punch me?”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “Why in the world would I be mad?”

  “I know my sister. I’m guessing she already showed you the picture on social media. I’m so sorry, Baylee. I try hard to keep my private life private, but it’s so damn hard now with smartphones and cameras in everyone’s hands.” He stepped away from her and ran a hand through his hair.

  He sat down on the edge of her desk, caught between relief she wasn’t angry and frustration over the situation. Now that the pic was out, the press would be asking about her. His twitter feed was already beginning to fill with questions from fans. His assistant was dealing with that, God bless her, but it was only going to get worse. The ball was rolling and it would only pick up speed.

  Baylee stepped close, standing between his legs with her hands on his shoulders. He rested his hands on her hips.

  “You didn’t take the photo. You didn’t put it on the internet. And from what I can see on the original post, it was a fan excited that they were dining at a table near you. They didn’t mean any harm.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re taking this so much better than I thought you would.”

  “Kate warned me about this.”

  “What?”

  She shushed him with a finger to his lips. A finger that tasted like sugar as he kissed it.

  “Don’t be mad at Kate. She was trying to protect me. Both of us. She means well.”

  “She’s nosy.”

  She kissed him this time to shush him up. It worked.

  “She cares and I appreciate that.”

  “She’s...” But her mouth was on his again and, damn, all thought flew from his head. All he could see, feel, think of was Baylee. Sweet, curvy, perfect Baylee.

  When they came up for air, she said, “Let’s just take this one day at a time, okay? You said yourself this happens to you all the time right?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, better we start learning how to deal with it now than when you’re thousands of miles away.”

  “Man, you’re easy on me.”

  “No. I’m falling head over heels in love with you.”

  He blinked.

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to spring that on you like that, I just wanted you to know how I feel and I...”

  He pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck. She loved him. That shouldn’t shock him. The woman was a giant heart with skin.

  “You don’t have to say anything back, I just...”

  He placed a soft kiss on her neck then held her face in his hands, leaning down so they were eye to eye. “I think I fell for you the minute I saw you across the room at Kate’s wedding.”

  Her emerald eyes lit up. “You did?”

  “I did.”

  She smiled before kissing him again and shooing him out the door with a promise to see him at her house for dinner in a couple hours.

  He went out the back door, filled with more hope than when he first entered the bakery. Maybe Baylee was right. Maybe they could weather this part of his life if they took things one day at a time.

  Baylee said goodbye to Drew at the back door. When she turned, Eva eyed her from across the large kitchen island.

  “What?”

  “Well, for starters, I thought you two might start a fire in there.”

  Baylee’s whole body flushed with heat.
She’d completely forgotten about the window looking into the office. Eva must have seen everything. Every kiss.

  As if reading her mind Eva wiped her hands on her apron and said, “Don’t worry. Your hot, somewhat secret kisses, are safe with me.”

  “I had to reassure him things would be okay. A picture of us is out on the internet and he’s worried.”

  Eva nodded. “Yeah. That one’s getting some mileage.”

  Baylee stepped closer and stood across the island from her friend. “You knew? Why didn’t you show me or tell me about it?”

  “I didn’t really see it until today and things got really busy around here. I didn’t just want to dump it on you in the midst of a crowd.”

  Baylee nodded. That was fair. She couldn’t blame Eva for waiting. In fact, she was glad she did. Having Kate tell her was better and she was grateful Drew had come by to see her. She couldn’t care less what the world thought, only Drew.

  “You do understand what this will be like, don’t you?”

  “I’m beginning to see...”

  “No. I mean. Not just you. People think social media gives them the right to say whatever they want, post whatever they want, without thinking about consequences.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Eva took her phone from the pocket of her apron and moved around to Baylee’s side of the island. “Look. This is our Instagram account for the bakery. I started following Drew when you two got hot and heavy...”

  “Eva!”

  “Admit it. I just saw proof. But that’s not the point. Focus here.” Baylee frowned but looked again at Eva’s phone. “See. He posts pics of him at games, signing autographs, etc. I’m sure his assistant or publicist does most of it for him, but look at the comments.”

  Eva handed Baylee the phone so she could see it better. She scrolled through the comments, horrified. Some were nice, but many were either women asking to date him or do other things that shouldn’t be talked about in public, or it was people spewing things like “You should just quit. Your arm is done.” Or “You’re a has-been. Your days are over. Get the net.”

  She looked at Eva, her mouth open and eyes wide. “How could anyone be so cruel? Or... forward?” She handed Eva the phone, not wanting to be anywhere near such vitriol.

  Eva shrugged. “It’s just how it is now.” She dropped her phone back into her pocket. “Like I said. People hide behind their computer screens or phones and think they can say whatever they want. They think they know Drew because they see his pictures, etc.”

  Baylee’s head spun. She had no idea how Drew dealt with this. No wonder he was struggling mentally to get back in the game. Not only did he have to battle his own demons, he had the world’s opinions harping in his ear as well.

  Eva patted her arm. “I really think it will be okay, Baylee. He’s a good guy. It doesn’t take much to see that. You two are cute together. You’ll be fine.” She headed back to her side of the island to finish rolling the dough.

  Baylee went in her office, closed the door and sat at her desk. A part of her loved Drew even more now. Seeing what he handled on a daily basis and still working hard to get back in the game.

  She took a deep breath and let it out. Eva was right. They would make it. Whatever curve ball life threw at them she was ready to hit it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Baylee had been right. The picture of them online didn’t gain much momentum, but died out without too much of an issue. Drew had his assistant to thank for doing a great job of making it sound like no big deal. Not that Baylee wasn’t a big deal. She was Drew’s main focus now, besides getting back to spring training in full health. But as far as the public was concerned, the picture was nothing. It didn’t hurt that a professional basketball player hooked up with a major movie star the day after the picture surfaced so social media was focused on that.

  Drew shook his head. It was hard to believe the attention span of the world today, but in this case, it worked in his favor so he wasn’t going to complain.

  He pulled his rental car into a parking spot on the street near the church. Baylee had asked him to meet her and Casey there for the Sunday morning service. More than happy to oblige her any request, he’d said yes. But now, as he sat in his car for a moment and watched as people walked up the front steps and through the large, wooden doors, he had his doubts. He liked going to church. Missed it. But with his schedule and fame, it just wasn’t always possible.

  His gut churned a bit at the thought of the sideways glances he would get from people as well, probably none too happy with him dating Baylee, or the picture of her on the internet. A few things he’d learned about Silver Bay in the short time he’d been there was that they were fiercely protective of their own and Baylee was loved and adored by everyone in town.

  A flash of yellow caught his eye. Baylee and Casey were walking around the corner in front of the church. Her hair was down, her curls framing her face in a golden glow. A full on, in the flesh angel right there, stopping to wait for him by the front doors. Everything in him calmed at the sight of her. All the angst he’d been feeling moments before vanished. He got out of his car and headed towards her. Crossing the street, he approached them, exchanging with Casey a secret handshake they’d made up together then looked at Baylee. They’d spent every free moment together that past week since the internet picture situation, but mostly at her house. Whether she was avoiding being in public with him or not, he wasn’t sure and didn’t ask. He wanted to be with her. It didn’t matter where. Uncertain of how she’d feel about any public display of affection, he stayed a step away.

  However, she moved right to him, kissed his cheek then took his hand. “You look handsome.”

  He grinned like an idiot.

  “And you look beautiful, as always.”

  Her blush matched the pink sweater she wore over a flowered dress. Her sandals had heels, making her taller than he was used to, but she still tucked under his arm perfectly and that was all that mattered. The three of them entered the church together, Drew still apprehensive about how people would respond to him, but much more confident now with Baylee by his side.

  Organ music floated through the air as they entered. It was an older church, built in the early 1900s but kept up well. The stained glass windows and wooden pews brought back memories of his childhood, going to church with his grandparents in Boston. A church where famous people in history were buried right outside in the cemetery next door. The scent of wood polish and lemon warmed his senses. Baylee squeezed his hand and led him to a seat beside Kate and Jack.

  He hugged his sister and shook Jack’s hand. They all sat and the service began. Drew looked around. No one was staring at him. People looked forward, listening as the pastor welcomed everyone.

  “Are you okay?” Baylee leaned into him and whispered. She smelled of vanilla and mint.

  He smiled down at her. “Yeah. I am.”

  He could get used to this. A daily, quiet life with Baylee and Casey. Church on Sundays, picnics with family afterwards. For as long as he could remember, he’d only wanted baseball. But now? Now he wanted more. Not more, really, just something else. He looked down the row. Kate smiled at him. Their mother sat next to her. She winked then looked back towards the front.

  Finishing strong in his career was still important. Something he wanted. But a few weeks ago, he didn’t have a clue what would come after. Now he did. And the idea didn’t scare him the way it used to. It brought peace. Gave him something to look forward to.

  He turned as Baylee’s mom settled in beside him on the end of the row. He’d met Jenny, of course. She’d been by for dinner a few times he’d been at Baylee’s house.

  She smiled and squeezed his hand as she whispered, “Hey, sugar. It’s good to see you here.”

  Drew smiled at her. It didn’t take a genius to see where Baylee got her soft heart. Not that Jenny hadn’t pulled him aside and given him the “You hurt her and you have to deal with me speech.” She had. An
d she’d put him in his place more than some fathers had in the past when Drew had dated their daughters. But Jenny was pure gold, just like her Baylee.

  He brought Baylee’s hand to his lips and kissed it. No. He wouldn’t hurt her. And he prayed in that moment that God would give him the chance to prove to her every day just how much he loved her and Casey.

  Baylee was excited. Church that morning had gone well. Great, actually. She could sense Drew’s apprehension at first, but he calmed once they were inside and he was surrounded by his family and friends. He hadn’t said so, but she was aware he hadn’t had a lot of that in the past few years with his job and his schedule. But family was important to him. And to be in a place like Silver Bay where he could be himself. Well, that meant a lot to him too.

  But as wonderful as the morning had been, along with a picnic lunch at Jack and Kate’s afterward, Baylee was excited to take Drew out dancing. After their dressy dinner, which she truly enjoyed, she wanted to show him the kick-back side of things around her town. And what better way to do so than go country dancing.

  Being from Texas, she’d learned how to country dance when she was in diapers, but she wasn’t so sure about Drew. Yes, the man had moved well – very well – at Kate’s wedding when they’d danced, but that was different. She was looking forward to seeing a more let loose side of Drew. It was in there, for sure. And Garrett’s Saloon was just the place. Essentially the best known bar in town, Garrett’s wasn’t a dance hall, but he did move aside tables on Saturday and Sunday nights so there was enough of a dance floor for patrons to enjoy.

  Garrett had gone to high school with Maggie and Josh. He was a nice guy. Ran a clean place. Mainly locals hung out in the evenings for a great burger and a good beer. Baylee had only gone once with the girls for a night out dancing, and had enjoyed herself. Tonight would be just as fun. More so, since Drew was joining her.

  She glanced at her watch. “Gracious!” Was that really the time? Drew would be by any second to pick her up then they were meeting Jack, Kate, Paul, and Hannah at the saloon. Jack, Paul, and Hannah had all grown up in Silver Bay and went to high school together.